Kathryn is gutted by early collapse

May 4 2008 By Euanmclean

GUTTED Kathryn Imrie cursed the horror hole that cost her chance of becoming the first Scot to win her home Open.

The Monifieth veteran made an early charge for the lead with two birdies in the opening three holes, only to see the wheels come flying off with a spectacular triple bogey on the fourth.

Imrie managed to find the water running the left of this four TWICE on her way to a horror seven.

Her bad luck cost her dear as she failed to recover her golden touch - limping home in level par both for the day and the tournament.

That was good enough to earn the 40-year-old a joint sixth place finish and a share of the title of top-ranked Scot alongside Clare Queen.

But Imrie admitted that's no consolation after hauling herself within two shots of leader Gwladys Nocera before it went horribly wrong for her.

She said: "It's unfortunate because I got off to a great start and really felt that Iwas going to challenge for the lead at that stage.

"Number four is a hard hole but if you get a good confident tee shot it's no problem - only I didn't.

"It was a horrendous swing and a horrendous shot into the water.

"Then I was a bit unlucky to see my chip shot to the green spin back and down the hill into the water again.

"I never really hit the ball well off the tee after that, which is no great surprise.

"Apart from my struggles with the driver I feel really good."